With today’s hectic pace of life it is often difficult to keep up. Our brains frequently feel like they are going to explode with the massive amounts of information bombarding us. We suffer from over stimulation unlike any generation before us. We have cell phones that are constantly on, reminding us of work yet to do. Social media that seems to juxtapose great success next to the worst of human behaviour. And the advertising media has seeped into every nook and cranny of our lives telling us how incomplete we are unless we buy certain products. Everywhere, worklife and our homelife, we are expected to do more with less. Is it any wonder we feel frazzled and stressed?
When my oldest was born, I was in awe of how she could sleep through just about anything. Until that is, she reached about 3 months old. Then she no longer slept as long. The late afternoon was the worst. She was tired and overstimulated but would not go to sleep. She would cry and fuss for several hours at a time. As a new mom, I just couldn’t wait for my husband to get home so he could take her from me for just a bit while I collected myself. As soon as he got home and changed from his work clothes, he would take over while I went out by myself for walk around the block for a bit of fresh air.
I didn’t care if it was sunny or rainy, hot or cold, I just needed a few minutes by myself to hear myself think and to put the day in perspective. It made all the difference in the world to me. I took the time to remind myself that this was not permanent and she would grow out of this phase just as she would others as she grew up. I would think about what things we had done together that day that brought a smile to my face. I would reflect on how much she had grown in just a few weeks, learning to roll over or sit up on her own. When I returned 10 minutes later, I was ready to be the mother I wanted to be no matter how fussy she became. I had centred myself and renewed my strength.
Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in life has a purpose—
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross M.D.
Today, carve out a little time to reflect on your life. Go for a walk, listen to some music or just sit for five minutes with a cup of coffee or tea. You can find five minutes in your day somewhere. You might think that five minutes isn’t very long. What difference can five minutes make? Well try holding your breath for five minutes and just see how long five minutes really is. Set the timer on your phone if you must and then forget everything else that is demanding your attention for five minutes.
How much different is your life from where you were last month or last year? Are you moving forward in the direction of your dreams? What could you be doing to build your business or up level your career that would move you in that direction but you are not doing currently? You won’t likely solve your problems. The bills will still be there when you come back to reality. But you will have given yourself a short respite that can re-energize you, renew your strength and determination, by reminding you of how much you have and have accomplished. Choose to nurture your strength. Choose to make room in your life for you.